Ephs 2nd out of 8 at McGill Invite
The Williams Ephs competed in the McGill Cross Country Invitational today at Mount Royal Park in Montreal, Quebec. Williams placed three runners in the top 10 in their first formal competition of the season but settled for second behind Western Ontario in an eight-team field.
The 6K racecourse consisted of three 2K loops around the park at the base of Montreal’s famous Mount Royal. Half grass and half cinder trail with a couple substantial hills, the course introduced the harriers to the rolling terrain they will experience throughout the season. Under gloomy skies and chilly temperatures, the gun signaling the start of the race went off at 12:10 pm. The Ephs ran the first loop at a moderate pace and gradually increased their speed as the race progressed. Nearly every Williams harrier ran negative splits.
Senior captain Grant Burgess, coming off a stellar summer of training, led the Ephs to the finish line in fourth place (20:32). Sophomore Connor Kamm (20:33) and senior captain Corey Levin (20:37) were on his heels in seventh and ninth place. Brendan Christian ‘09, who spent the summer running at altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona, edged out teammate Corey Watts ’10 for fifteenth place—both runners were clocked in 20:46. Rounding out the Ephs’ top seven were sophomores Sam Jackson in 21st (20:55) and Jeff Stenzel (21:01).
“It was really cool to toe the line with the team, officially,” Levin said. “Everyone gutted out a solid race in less than ideal conditions. Everyone finished the race with a smile on their face.”
Williams scored 41 points to beat third place McGill, with 65 points. First place Western Ontario had 29 points.
Andrew Gaidus led the Ephs’ strong first-year class with 27th place in 21:14. He was followed by classmates Mike Geary (21:22) and Will Palmer (21:34).
A small group of Williams runners also competed at the Middlebury Invitational today. Schuyler Hall led the team in the 8K race with 14th place in 29:06.
Next week the Ephs host the Purple Valley Classic Invitational
at their home course at Mt. Greylock High School. Upperclassmen
will race 8K, while first-years will join alumni harriers in a
5K.
